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Dam on Kunar River, Afghanistan

India Extends Support to Afghanistan for Building Dam over Kunar River

Analysis Date: November 01, 2025

Why in News?

India has announced its support for Afghanistan’s plan to build a dam over the Kunar River, which flows into Pakistan. The move comes amid growing water tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, after the Taliban-led government in Kabul expressed its intent to regulate and restrict water flow to Pakistan through dam construction projects.

Background

  • The Kunar River is a transboundary river shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan, making it strategically and hydrologically significant.
  • The announcement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) follows Afghanistan’s recent decision to assert control over its water resources — a stance reminiscent of India’s post-Uri “Indus Waters” response to Pakistan.
  • The proposed dam project is expected to enhance irrigation, power generation, and water management capacity in eastern Afghanistan.

About the Kunar River

  • Other Name: Kama River
  • Total Length: Approximately 480 km (298 miles)
  • Origin: High in the Hindu Kush Mountains near the Broghil Pass in northern Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
  • Course:
    • Flows southward near the Durand Line (Afghanistan–Pakistan border).
    • Passes through eastern Afghanistan and reaches Jalalabad, where it joins the Kabul River.
  • Tributaries:
    • Left bank: Shishi River
    • Right bank: Lotkoh River, Landai Sin River, and Pech River
  • In Pakistan: Known as the Chitral River
  • Drainage: Part of the Indus River basin, as the Kabul River (into which it flows) later joins the Indus.
  • Source of Water: Fed by glacial and snowmelt from the Hindu Kush.

River's Path (Indus Basin)

Hindu Kush (Origin)
Kunar River (Afghan)
Chitral River (Pak)
Joins Kabul River
Joins Indus River

Strategic and Geopolitical Significance

  • The Kunar River project has cross-border implications, as water flow impacts Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
  • India’s support enhances its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, even under the Taliban regime, while indirectly influencing Pakistan’s water security.
  • The move aligns with India’s development partnership approach, focusing on hydropower and irrigation projects in Afghanistan.
  • The river being part of the Indus watershed makes the development geopolitically sensitive, potentially adding a new dimension to Indo-Pak-Afghan water relations.

Significance

  • Strengthens India–Afghanistan technical and developmental cooperation.
  • Promotes regional water management and energy generation in a resource-scarce region.
  • Reflects India’s strategic outreach in Central and South Asia to counterbalance Pakistan’s influence.
  • Could serve as a model for future cross-border water collaboration between South and Central Asian nations.

Quick Facts

River Name Kunar River (also known as Kama River)
Origin Hindu Kush Mountains near Broghil Pass
Flows Through Eastern Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan
Tributary of Kabul River (which joins the Indus River)
Length ~480 km
Key Tributaries Shishi, Lotkoh, Landai Sin, Pech Rivers
Known As in Pakistan Chitral River
Significance Strategic water resource shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan
India’s Role Technical and developmental support for dam construction